In July 1939 at the age of 12, Donn Fendler was lost on Maine's Mount Katahdin for nine days. The disappearance launched a nationwide search before he was found near Stacyville, Maine.  

Fendler survived to tell his story in the book “Lost on a Mountain in Maine,” which became a children’s classic. 

85 years later, the movie version’s one-time-only pre-release showing will be at the O’Shaughnessy Center on July 5 at 5 p.m. All proceeds from the showing will go to supporting Whitefish Legacy Partners and the Whitefish Trail.  

The iconic Maine story made its way to producer Sylvester Stallone –– and now Whitefish ––through co-producer Dick Boyce’s family’s generations of storytelling.  

Boyce said his father, the same age as Fendler, was greatly inspired by the story. Boyce’s father then read the story to his own sons when they were living in Rye, New York.  

Boyce was astonished to discover that Fendler was still alive and lived in Rye.  

“In 1992, I finally talked to Don on the phone,” Boyce said. And that’s when “I realized this story needed to continue to be passed down for more generations.”  

Another 25 years later, Boyce tracked down the rights to the movie through a Facebook group simply called “Lost on the Mountain in Maine” with 25,000 followers.  

Boyce had connections which led him to producer Stallone.  

“I said to [Stallone], why do you want to do my movie?” Boyce said.  

Mimicking Stallone’s deep voice, Boyce said that Stallone said, “‘we've been making movies about what man can endure for decades. But we’ve never done a movie about what a kid can endure.’” 

Boyce says his family is his motivation for making the movie. 

“I’ve backpacked all over Glacier and Maine with my boys... the movie is a ‘Mom and Dad production,’” he said.

“MOM stands for Mountains in Maine and DAD stands for Don’s Awesome Deed.” But also, “it’s dedicated to my mom and dad,” Boyce explained.

“It’s a story that needs to be passed from generation to generation. It’s for mothers and fathers everywhere.” 

Tickets are available in advance at www.eventbrite.com/e/private-screening-of-lost-on-a-mountain-in-maine-tickets-924621316247, or at the door if not sold out.

    Boyce’s mother, 60, at Polebridge in the 80's prior to backpacking in Glacier. (Photo provided by Boyce)
  

    Boyce backpacking in 2005 in Glacier with his sons. (Photo provided by Boyce)